NC Legislature

Local News

9:34 am

Tue February 10, 2015

Democratic party activists in North Carolina last weekend chose former legislator Patsy Keever of Asheville as the new chair of the state party. She takes the helm as North Carolina Democrats face fundraising struggles and a continued Republican “super-majority” in the General Assembly. Keever will no doubt hear from a recently-formed coalition of House and Senate lawmakers who've dubbed themselves the N.C. Main Street Democratic Caucus. They promise to push for “centrist” and “pro-business” policies in the legislature. Senator Joel Ford of Mecklenburg County is part of the caucus. He says, Democrats in the state have gotten distracted by focusing too much on issues like same-sex marriage, abortion and the environment.

Local News

5:27 pm

Tue August 19, 2014

The North Carolina House Tuesday voted down a bill that would have regulated county sales tax rates and earmarked money for economic development. The move also means many school districts will have to cut teacher assistant positions.

The private board that's taking over job recruitment for the North Carolina Commerce Department meets Thursday. The state legislature recently finalized the basic rules for the board, and Governor Pat McCrory signed them into law this week.

Local News

7:35 am

Fri May 9, 2014

You may have heard the governor released a plan Wednesday for boosting teacher pay. But there was a second teacher pay announcement by Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest. His proposal would give people the chance to pay for higher teacher salaries, not through their taxes, but through donations.

Local News

3:12 pm

Tue April 1, 2014

Last week a federal judge ruled that some North Carolina lawmakers will have to release emails they exchanged with lobbyists as they were working on the state's sweeping new election law. The judge's order addresses a key question in the lawsuits brought by the U.S. Justice Department and others against the state: How far does the concept of legislative immunity go?

Election

4:25 pm

Thu March 20, 2014

If you don’t like what your elected leaders are doing, you have recourse in the next election. You can kick ’em out of office.

But that’s hardly a reality in 2014 when it comes to the North Carolina General Assembly. More than half of the 170 House and Senate seats will be decided in the May primary because they have no opposition in the general election. So, we are pretty much assured there being no significant changes in the Republicans’ veto-proof majority.

Local News

3:39 pm

Tue February 25, 2014

More than a third of North Carolina's counties are asking for an exemption from part of the sweeping election overhaul the General Assembly passed last year. Those exemptions would allow counties to cut early voting periods beyond what the new law already does.

Voter ID, changes in education, the debate over Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and more - the most recent North Carolina legislative session has been historically active. Whether you endorse the Republican-led agenda or reject it, many citizens have questions for our legislators. Charlotte Talks joined forces with The Charlotte Observer and WTVI to present a public forum. North Carolina Legislators from Mecklenburg County answered citizen questions about some of the most important issues facing today. We air that conversation, when Charlotte Talks.